Folding garment-support.



D. H. LEACH.

FOLDING GARMENT SUPPORT.

APPUCATION HLED JuLY14. 191e.

,Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

i INVENTOR GWEl/@m f WITNESSES ATTOR N EY D. H. LEACH.

FOLDING GARNIENT SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED 1ULY14, ISIS.

Patented Mar. 19, 19I8.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY entre DAVID II. mincir, or sAortAiftENTo, entrnoiuiIA.v

FOLDING eAnMnNT-snrronr.

Specification of Letters Bate-nt.

Paten-ted Mar. 19,v 19518.

Application filed July 14, 1916. Serial No. 109,318.

To all whom t 'may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID LEACH, a citizen of the United States, residing atSac* ramento, in the county of Sacramento vand State of California, have invented anew andv useful Folding Garment-Support, of which the following is ,a specification.'V

The present invention relates to an improved garment support of the folding type'.

It is an object of this invention to provide a garmentA support which lmay be secured against the inner side of a closet door, or the like, to utilize the space in the closet immediately behind the door, and to permit the swinging of the support, by the opening of the door, out of the shadows of the-closet, and into full view to gain access to the garments on the support, and to subject the garments to the full light of the room.

Another object of thisvinvention is to provide a support with the vabove described characteristics, which vis foldable, relatively sin-all, and compact, so that the support is particularly ladaptable for use by people who li-ve in small cottages, hotels, and rooming houses, where, as a rule, the clothes closets are small and dark, and where many articles lof clothing must be kept folded and creased in a trunk. In carrying out this object of the-invention, the support is provided with shelves, upon which may be placed hats, shoes, gloves, and the like, the shelves being of such construction as to accommodate coat hangers for supporting coats, and the like, and also being provided with novel devices for suspending trouser hangers.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be brought out in the following specific description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a garment support, constructed in accorda-nce with thisinvention, and disclosed as being secured against the inner side of a closet door.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the improved garment support folded, showing the compact larrangement of the parts. 7

Fig. 3is=an end elevation of the garment support as set iup land-secured against a door.

Fig.V L1 is .a ,fragmentaryv sectional View, taken through one end :of .the supp' ort,=fshowxv f ing in section the several joints between the parts of the support. y

Fig. 5 is a detail enlarged'sectional view, taken"longitudinally through one end of one of the bars Vof the lower shelf, showing theV adjacent portion"v vof theJ shelf' secured thereto.

Referring to these dra-wings, wherein like parts are designated by r'similar numerals of reference throughout the several views, 1Q designates the door casing orv frame, which surrounds a closet, and to which is lhinged theinner edge or 'hinge stile of a 'door "11.

The support of this invention is ladaptt-id to be secured against the inner side of the door 11 in such'position'that when the door is c losed,'the improved support willprojcct inwardly intoYY the closet, andtake upfthe usually lost space immediately behind the closet door. The' support' is provided with a frame or back 12, which, as shownin Fig'.

1, is preferably formed of strapmetal andfis bent edgewise into substantially v1U-shape, providing a rectal'igular frame open at its lower end. The frame is bent edgewiseto provide a flat baseor surface `f or engagement against the inner side of the door. Fastening devices 13, suchas screws are se cured through the opposite arms of the back 12 and engage in the door 11 to secure the back flat against the door. The lower free ends of the back frame 12 are bent outwardly and aretwisted at substantially right angles to the adjacent ends of the frame to provide ears 14: which stand outwardly vfrom the door 11.

A lower shelf l5, preferably formed of strap metal is bent transversely yto provide a shelf frame, which is substantially U- shaped and 'open at its inner side. rlhe opposite arms of the shelf 15 arehingedly connected near their -free inner ends to the ears let by pivots 16. With particular refer-1 extending bars 19, which are spaced apart and arezsecured at theirv opposite `ends to the arms-fof ftheshelf 1:5. .As-shownto advan-.

i tage in Fig.'5, each of these bars 19 is in `Ain substantially horizontal position when swung downwardly from theback 12. To support the shelf 15, the back 12 is provided at each end with an eye 22, which is formed by the overturning of the lower end of a strap, which is secured against the back 12. Hinged to the eyes 22 are the upper sections 23 of supportingrods, the lower sections 24 Y of' which are hinged to the lower shelf 15 near theouter side of the same. As best shown in Fig. 4, the upper rod sections 23 are fitted into the eyes 22 and are adapted to swing vertically, and are held by the eyes from any appreciable lateral swinging. The eyes 22 have pivots 25 passing therethrough, and which are preferably in the form of bolts extending inwardly beyond the eyes 22, and also hingedly support the lower ends of bracket arms 26.

Nuts 27, or the like, are threaded upon the inner ends of the bolts 25 to hold them in place and to retain the bracket arms 26 thereon. The supporting rods each have a hook and eye connection between the upper and lower sections thereof, as clearly shown at 28, in Figs. 1 and 3.

The bracket arms 26 are adapted to be swung upwardly and have their upper extremities twisted at right angles and slotted to provide upwardly extending forks, which register longitudinally, and which receive therethrough the oppositev ends of a rod 29, which is carried in an upper shelf 30.

This upper shelf 30 comprises a frame,

A made preferably of a length of strap metal bent transversely at right angles near its opposite ends and substantially U-shaped. The opposite arms thereof, are, however, twisted at right angles, so as to lie, when extended, in substantially a horizontal plane. The shelf 30 is provided with a number of rods 29 which fill in the intermediate portion of the frame, so as to support articles of clothing, Vsuch as hats, shoes, and the like, on top ofthe frame, when extended. The rods 29 are shownin the present instance as having their opposite ends turned upwardly and riveted in the opposite arms of the upper shelf 30. l

The upper shelf is connected to the back i 12Vby strap hinges 31., which are secured to the horizontal arms of the upper. shelf,

and which have their inner ends upturned to provide attaching flanges 32 which are secured against the outer face of the back 12 by rivets, or the like. It will be noted that the strap hinges 31 extend outwardly from the back 12 into Va vertical plane, which lies beyond the vertical plane of the eyes 22, which carry the bracket arms and the rods for the upper and lower shelves. rlhis construction permits the upper shelf 30 to be swung inwardly against the back 12, as shown in Fig. 2, and to clear the eyes and their bracket arms and rod sections.

The ears 14 on the lower end of the back 12 extend outwardly to 'a sufficient extent to pivotally support the lower shelf 15 heyond the vertical plane of the eyes 22 and the strap hinges 31. As shown in Fig. 2, this arrangement of the ears 1a'- projects the lower shelf 15 outwardly from the back to a suiicient distance to lie fiat against or overlap the upper shelf 30, when the latter is folded. f f

From Figs. 1 and 3, it will be noted that lthe opposite ends of the frame of the lower shelf 15 extend rearwardly beyond the ears 14, and terminate in straightedges, which provide stops 33 for engagement fiat ,against the inner surface of theY door 11 to assist the supporting rods in holding the lower shelf 15 rigidly in place.

The lower shelf 15 is adapted for supporting a number of coat hangers 34, which may be arranged along the outer bar or side of the frame of the shelf 15, or which, ofcourse, may be engaged over the bars 19, if found desirable. The bars 19 are provided with one or more straps 35, whichare vlooped thereover, and are adapted .to slide longitudinally on the bars 19. The straps vhang vdown from the bars and carry therebeneath horizontal supporting arms 36, which project from the opposite sides of the straps 35 substantially in parallelism with, and Ybeneath the bars 19. The straps and arms may also be swung up to a horizontal position Vwhen the shelves are t-o be folded and can be removed from their rods by dismounting Ythe rods.

The back 12 is adapted to be secured against the inner side of the door a suiicient distance from the inner edge thereof to admit of the free operation of the door, when the support is applied thereto. ItV is also designed to mount the arms 36 for adjustment from end to end of the lower shelf, in order that the arms maybe always positioned at the outer end of thergarment support, irrespective of the directionk in which the door 11 may swing. These arms 36 are adapted to support a number of trouser hangers V37, which are merely engaged over the opposite ends of the arms 36 and heldfrom accidental ends 38 provide: heads@ sters t0 arrestthe outward sliding movementof theutronser hangers Whenthe door is swung into open or closed. position.V

In positioning the garment support'upon the door, the backv 12 must be secured` upon the ydoor at al pointv spaced considerably downwtrd from the,upperedge of the door, so as to accommodate hats,I and other articles, upon the upper shelf 30. The arrangementv of the bracket armsv A26 and the supportingrods forthe lower shelf is such that the weight of the articles placed upon the shelves is distributed above and below the supporting screws 13. The stops 33 `on the inner end of the lowershelf l5 provide a substantial reinforcement `for the I'ears 14 of the back, so that when heavy weights are placed upon the lower shelf, the stops 33 bind against the door and relieve the supporting rods and the back from considerable strain.

When the support is folded into the position shown in Fig. 2, and as above described,

' it occupies but relatively small space, so that it may be readily packed into a trunk, or the like, and transported from place to place. |The structure is such that it provides not only a pair of vertically spaced shelves for accommodating` various articles of clothing, and the like, but it also provides means for supporting a large number of coat hangers and trouser hangers, and so disposes them that they may be easily and quickly removed, one independently of the other. The positioning of the support against the inner side of the closet door permits the swinging outwardly of the support with the door, so `that all of the garments on the support are disclosed to full View, and are subjected to the entire light of the room, and may be easily and quickly removed and replaced.

That is claimed is l. In a garment support, a frame, superposed shelves swingingly connected to the frame to extend horizontally therefrom and movable toward the frame on the folding thereof to lie one upon the other, supporting members pivoted to the frame between the swinging connections of said shelves and adapted to extend divergingly from the frame for detachable connection with the shelves to support the same in horizontal position, and hangers slidably connected with the lowermost shelf and foldable therewith.

2. In a garment support, a foldable shelf structure for a horizontally disposed bar, a strap loosely embracing the bar depending therefrom and adapted to slide from end to end on said bar, and an arm secured to the strap intermediate its ends, and suspended thereby below the bar in parallel relation thereto and foldable with the shelf.

3. In a garment support, a back frame adapted to be secured against a door or other supportand having its lower extremities ex.- tending outwardlyand downwardly from the door, a second frame having free ends andh-inged near its free ends to the outturned ends of saidback `frame and adapted to be swung outwardly therefrom, the free extremitiesof said `second frame extending inwardly against the door to brace said second frame, and supporting rmeans carried by said first frame to engage and support the second frame.

4. Ina garment support, an open frame, superposed :Shelves swingingly connected to the side limbs of said frame to extend horizontally therefrom and movable toward the frame on the folding thereof to lie one upon theI other, and supporting members connected to the side limbs of said frame between the swinging connections of said shelves and vadapted to extend divergently from the frame for detachable engagement with the shelves to support the same in horizontal position, one of the supporting members being formed in separable sections connected with the frame and one of the shelves, respectively the section connected with the frame being pivoted thereto, the joining ends of the section being formed with an eye and hook.

5. In a garment support, an open frame, superposed shelves swingingly connected to the side limbs of said frame to extend horizontally therefrom and movable toward the frame on the folding thereof to lie one upon the other, and support-ing members pivoted to the side limbs of said frame between thek swinging connections of said shelves and adapted to extend divergently from the frame for detachable engagement with the shelves to support the same in horizontal position, each shelf being formed with spaced longitudinal bars, the ends of the lowermost shelf being designed to engage the support for the frame to brace the latter.

6. In a garment support, a back adapted to be secured to the door of a closet or the like, a shelf secured to said back and having a longitudinally extending bar arranged horizontally, a strap slidably mounted upon said bar, and projecting downwardly therefrom, and an arm attached to the lower end of said strap, extending parallel with said bar and adapted to support trouser hangers and the like, said strap and arm being adjustable along said bar so that they may be located at the side of the door remote from the hinge when the same is opened.

7. In a garment support, a foldable shelf comprising a frame, and a series of longitudinally arranged bars attached to the frame and constituting the bottom of the shelf, straps loosely fitting said bars so as to slide therealong, and horizontal support-ing arms secured to the lower ends of the straps and foldable with the shelf, the ends of the arms being upturned to provide stops at their extremities, and said straps being adapted to space the arms below the bars for receiving hangers thereon. Y

8. In a garment support, a foldable shelf struoture having a horizontally disposed bar, a strap loosely embracing the bar, depending therefrom and adapted to slide from end to end o n said bar, and an arm secured to the strap intermediate its ends and suspended thereby below the bar in parallel relation thereto, the arm being upturned at its ends and adapted to receive article hangers, the upturned ends preventing the hangers from working ofi'.1 of the arms.

9. In garment support comprisingV a back adapted for seeurement against a door or other support, upper and lower shelves Copies of this patent may be obtained for hinged in vertically spaced apart relation to said back and adapted to be swung against the same, supporting means to hold the said shelves in outstanding relation to the back, the lower shelf being composed of a series of longitudinally extending bars, and supports for trouser hangersmounted upon said bars and slidabletherealong, said supports being foldable with the lower shelf.

In testimony. that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aii'iXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.`

DAVID I-I. LEACI-I.

Witnesses FRED KRUEGER, A. L. JOHNSON.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

